Name:
Artemisia bigelovii - Ephedra (viridis, torreyana) Talus Shrubland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
The vegetation is characterized by a sparse mixed short-shrub canopy scattered among boulders, which often are larger than the vegetation. Total vegetation cover ranges from 2 to 25% but is usually less than 15%. <i>Artemisia bigelovii</i> is always present and the most abundant single shrub species, but often less then the combined cover of several other shrub species present. As many as 15 species of shrub may be associated with this community, none with more than a few percent cover, including <i>Atriplex canescens, Atriplex confertifolia, Brickellia grandiflora, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Coleogyne ramosissima, Echinocereus triglochidiatus, Ericameria nauseosa, Eriogonum corymbosum</i>, and <i>Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>. <i>Rhus trilobata</i> and <i>Fraxinus anomala</i> are generally absent but may be present with very low relative cover. Only scattered herbaceous species are present, providing sparse cover. Common graminoids include <i>Achnatherum hymenoides, Aristida purpurea</i>, and <i>Pleuraphis jamesii</i>. Forbs occasionally present include <i>Chamaesyce fendleri, Eriogonum inflatum, Lepidium montanum</i>, and <i>Stanleya pinnata</i>. Biological soil crusts are absent or provide sparse cover. <i>Juniperus osteosperma</i> sapling or dwarf-trees are often present with too little cover to constitute a stratum. This mixed colluvial slope shrubland is known from eastern Utah and throughout the canyonlands of the Colorado Plateau. This sparse mixed shrubland occurs on the colluvial deposits that form on the lower slopes of canyons and valleys and on mesatops, steep canyon sides, benches, hills and escarpments. Most stands are on steep slopes (2-80%) between 1193 and 1673 m elevation and tend to occur on warmer exposures. Most of the unvegetated surface is covered by large rocks, gravel and bare soil. The substrate is complex and variable and often consists of an underlying shale covered by fragments of sandstone fallen from cliffs above. Soils are rapidly drained stony sandy loams, loamy sands, and clay loams.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:32617-{76728CD1-1CAC-4894-B061-CCA891B8D059}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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